Friends off court, Alolino, Tolomia eye UAAP title

IT MAY be hard to fire up any animosity between the top guards of this season’s UAAP Finals protagonists.

Friends even before their college careers took off, Far Eastern U’s Mike Tolomia and National University’s Gelo Alolino vie to lead their teams to the UAAP championship this Wednesday.

“We’re competitive, but outside, we’re friends,” said Alolino. “Even if we’re both in the Finals, we talk, text [and communicate through] social network. The friendship is still there.”

The two are among a clique of college players who formed a strong bond after years of playing together as members of the Philippine youth team.

Ateneo’s Kiefer Ravena, who’s part of that band of basketball brothers, couldn’t quite pick between his two long-time friends.

“It will boil down to Gelo and Mike,” said Ravena, this season’s MVP. “It’s a player’s game. As leaders of the team, they take it upon themselves to find a way to help the team win.”